Orientation & Mobility Instructor

Lighthouse Guild•New York, NY

About The Position

Lighthouse Guild is the leading not-for-profit healthcare organization dedicated to addressing and preventing vision loss. Our mission is to provide exceptional services that inspire people who are visually impaired to attain their goals. Our vision is a world in which no person is limited by their visual capacity. Our Rehabilitation Department is seeking a full time Orientation and Mobility Instructor to provide instruction and guidance to individuals with vision impairments in safely and independently navigating the home and community environments by teaching adaptive travel techniques. The O&M Instructor is responsible for teaching individuals who are blind/visually impaired to travel as independently, safely, and efficiently as possible in any environment. The O&M Instructor teaches travel skills; plans and provides individualized O&M programs while positively motivating individuals to develop appropriate skills, attitudes, and knowledge; utilizes a variety of instructional techniques appropriate to their abilities; and creates a safe and orderly learning environment.

Requirements

Excellent Writing and communication skills and strong knowledge of computers and software applications
Ability to independently travel throughout NYC using public transportation
Master’s degree or bachelor's degree with specialization in orientation and mobility instruction or a bachelor's degree and successful completion of instruction of a NYSCB approved program for orientation and mobility instruction professionals which meets nationally accepted standards.
Current O&M certification by ACVREP (COMS)

Responsibilities

Assess and evaluate orientation and mobility needs in the home, community, educational, and workplace environments
Teach skills needed for safe and independent travel including basic O&M concepts (utilizing senses, sighted guide, hand trailing, use of landmarks and clues, etc) for navigation in the home; cane skills, street crossings including intersection analysis, etc. for travel within the community; skills needed to independently access public transportation, utilizing technology when needed.
Provide instruction to individuals of all ages including children, adults and older adults
Provide safe travel and mobility management for individuals funded through the DOT 5310 program, the New York State Commission for the Blind (NYSCB) and private pay.
Write assessments and final reports as required by funders and adhere to contract regulations.
Dispense white canes as needed.
Provide follow-up with participants attending LGI Outreach Department’s presentations on safe travel and mobility management.
Meet regularly with supervisor for case reviews.
Other duties as assigned.